The Wizard of Oz Turns 70 The iconic movie that produced such memorable phrases as “there’s no place like home” and “lions and tigers and bears! oh my!” and such unforgettable characters as Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion is 70 years old as of August. The Wizard of Oz, based on L. Frank Baum’s 1900 children’s book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, was released by MGM on August 25, 1939. The film starred Judy Garland as Dorothy, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr, Jack Haley and Billie Burke. The film won Academy Awards for best original score and best song for “Over the Rainbow.” It also received Oscar nominations for best picture, best art direction, best cinematography and best special effects. The Wizard of Oz was aired annually on television from 1959 to 1991, and the Library of Congress names the movie as the mostwatched film in history.
“The friends that we made—it was so much fun. It was just a blast.” Cay Harkins, Studio K owner and former Dorothy
Autumn at Oz. To staff the Autumn at Oz event, Cindy hires three theatre groups and a host of volunteers, with more colorful, costumed characters to show you around than ever staffed Land of Oz at any one time. The party has even featured original actors cast as Munchkins in the 1939 film. Returning year after year are the diaspora of former Land of Oz staff and cast members, known fondly as the “Ozzies,” to reunite and reminisce. Some share with Cindy examples of the mischief and fun they had behind the scenes: one lady, a former dancing mushroom, told her, “I was the first person to ever go streaking through Oz!” Cay, for her part, found a husband at Oz. Andy Harkins was a Tin Man at Land of Oz several years before she played the role of Dorothy, but he was still working at Beech Mountain when she arrived. The stage manager at Land of Oz set the 56
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two up on a blind date. “It was because of Land of Oz that we met,” she said. Cay’s dance company Studio K has performed the Wizard of Oz ballet several times, and their dog is named Toto. Andy has reprised his role as the Tin Man at Autumn at Oz, their daughter Ashley has played Dorothy and Toto has played, well, himself. “The friends that we made—it was so much fun,” Cay said about her time at Land of Oz. “It was just a blast.” Attendance at Autumn at Oz has grown by leaps and bounds, with a record 8,200 paying visitors in 2008. “It’s one of the bigger events that we have up here,” Cindy said. “It’s amazing how many people come back year after year for this thing.” Several years ago, Emerald Mountain expanded the event from one day to two and handed over ticket sales to the Beech Mountain Chamber of Commerce. “It takes about a month to six weeks to get ready for this party,” Cindy said,
October 2009
“and a good two weeks to get over it.” The $15 admission price helps fund the costs of the AppalCART shuttle buses, entertainers, insurance and the park’s ongoing restoration projects. “We make money two days and we spend money 363,” remarked Cindy. Joining the many costumed volunteers at the Land of Oz will be just as many visitors who come dressed in their own homemade Wizard of Oz attire. Scores of women and children—and even a few men—come dressed as Dorothy and other popular characters. “Some of these people spend lots of time and lots of money [on their costumes],” Keller said. Fred stays busy at his General Mercantile on Autumn at Oz weekend, but he also stays away for sentimental reasons. “I’m kind of a diehard that always likes to remember it like it was,” he said. “It was truly an extra special place unlike any other